RII Track-4: NSF: Toward Tracking Organic Carbon Cycling in a Changing Arctic Ocean using Optical Properties and Numerical Modelling

浮游植物是海洋食物网的基础，它们对北极地区更充足的光照和更新鲜的地表水作出了反应。由于早期海冰融化，它们的春季开花时间提前，最近它们倾向于显示秋季开花。这表明浮游植物正在适应“新北极”。该项目的目标是通过与位于加州圣地亚哥的斯克里普斯海洋学研究所（SIO）的科学家合作，提高对植脂蛋白源有机碳循环的理解。与SIO光学海洋学领域的两位领先科学家合作的机会将积极影响并可能改变PI的研究职业轨迹。该项目的目标是1）调查浮游植物对环境变量的响应，2）跟踪浮游植物源有机碳的垂直输出，3）预测浮游植物变化对浮游动物丰度的影响。研究人员将分析2010年至2021年秋季期间在北极进行的五次实地活动中获得的几个综合数据集。这些数据包括固有和表观光学特性、浮游植物色素和群落组成，以及一整套物理和化学测量。从最近一次活动中获得的样品将运往SIO进行分析，使用SIO光学海洋学领域两位领先专家开发的定制光学仪器和技术。浮游植物群落组成将从测量的浮游植物吸收光谱得出。有机碳的垂直输出将使用一种基于粒子后向散射剖面的创新方法进行估算。与往年的春季和夏季活动的数据，秋季数据将被用来参数化的浮游植物和浮游动物的季节性演替的数值模式。主要产出将是面向科学界和公众的出版物和介绍。预期成果将包括最先进的光学测量和建模技术的培训，以及将知识整合到数值模型中的博士后指导。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Phytoplankton, which form the base of marine food webs, are responding to the associated higher light availability and fresher surface water in the Arctic. Their spring bloom is occurring earlier due to early sea ice melt, and they have recently tended to show a fall bloom. This suggests that the phytoplankton are acclimating to a “new Arctic”. The goal of this project is to improve the understanding of phytoplankton-originating organic carbon cycling through a collaboration with scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in San Diego, California. The opportunity to collaborate with two leading scientists in the field of optical oceanography at SIO will positively impact and potentially transform the PI’s research career trajectory. These benefits will also enhance the research capacity of the PI’s home institution.The goal of the project is to 1) investigate phytoplankton changes in response to environmental variables, 2) track vertical export of phytoplankton-originating organic carbon, and 3) predict the impact of phytoplankton changes on zooplankton abundance. The investigator will analyze several comprehensive datasets acquired on five field campaigns to the Arctic between 2010 and the fall of 2021. The data include inherent and apparent optical properties, phytoplankton pigments and community composition, and a full suite of physical and chemical measurements. Samples obtained from the most recent campaign will be shipped to SIO for analysis using a customized optical instrument and technique developed by two leading experts in the field of Optical Oceanography at SIO. The phytoplankton community composition will be derived from the measured phytoplankton absorption spectra. The vertical export of organic carbon will be estimated using an innovative approach based on profiles of particle backscattering. Together with the data from spring and summer campaigns in previous years, the fall data will be used to parameterize a numerical model of the seasonal succession of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The primary outputs will be publications and presentations for both scientific and public audiences. Expected outcomes will consist of training in the state-of-the-art optical measurement and modelling techniques and mentoring of a post-doc in the integration of the knowledge into a numerical model.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.